Holmes was a late starter and didn’t have a good amateur career in the first place. I don’t think those fights hold too much weight.
And Holmes only moved clockwise. Trouble w/ fighting a southpaw is it moves you into their power. Would help a ton if Larry could move counterclockwise. Wells ko'd Holmes twice and had a big right hook. Very hard to prepare for that style/punch and Usyk has a good one himself. Decision bout all the way and would depend on the location of the bout and the amount of DKP influence. One thing we do know is Holmes is not taking his act on the road and going into the other guy's backyard.
I usually refrain from commenting on such nonsensical opinions, but here goes anyway: Don't you guys realize how silly you look when you have to bring up amateur losses to strengthen your arguments? When you have to reach and stretch and bring up stuff like 'fighting in other's back yards' to hype your guy? Particularly when discussing a bonafide ATG who is ranked in the top 5 HWs of all time by many? Particularly when your guy has only beaten one halfway decent opponent and even he did better and won more rounds the second time around? It looks desperate and ridiculous. Usyk is a southpaw, so this automatically negates Larry's jab. Brilliant!
Here we go again. Like I’ve said on the other thread that we’re debating on, other fighters have beaten great southpaws without having had any previous experience of fighting them. Yes, it would have been a significant factor. Likewise for Usyk, who has never seen a prime Larry Holmes before.
Michael Spinks was a fine fighter himself. Did he outbox Holmes twice though? Yes, Larry never fought a southpaw before. A very valid and significant point. Another valid point, is that Usyk has never fought or beaten a guy like Holmes before.
There’s nothing to suggest that it would have been an easy night for Usyk. Usyk has never easily beaten a HW like a prime version of Larry Holmes.
"other fighters have beaten great southpaws without any experience fighting them" Which ones? And I'm talking about the heavyweight division. The only "great southpaws" prior to Usyk at heavyweight in terms of accomplishment were Moorer (ex-LHW), Byrd (ex-SMW) and Sanders (KO'd by Nate Tubbs and Rahman). These were all very flawed fighters compared to Usyk but they still beat "ATG's" Holyfield, Vitali and Wlad regardless, despite huge disadvantages in many areas. Holyfield, Vitali and Wlad were also more willing to fight southpaw heavies than any other heavyweight in history prior, so they very likely struggled less than Holmes, Bowe, Lewis etc. If Moorer and Byrd had fought at sub-cruiser their whole careers and someone said "I reckon LHW Moorer could beat Bowe-conqueror Holyfield" or "I reckon SMW/LHW Byrd could beat skilled iron-chinned behemoth Vitali", no one would have taken it seriously. On the other hand, Usyk would be at no size disadvantage relative to Holmes, who was himself a big heavyweight in his era. Holmes did have prior experience against a low level southpaw: he was 0-2, 2 KO defeats (his only amateur KO defeats). He never fought any southpaws in 75 fights as a pro. Was he ducking or were there none around? Either way, his prior record + zero pro experience would make him a massive underdog against the GOAT southpaw HW, especially as Holmes would have no punchers chance. On paper he looks like a much easier mark for a good southpaw than Holyfield, Vitali or Wlad were. Holmes even managed to lose to a natural sub-cruiser for good measure. Usyk has studied the Holmes style extensively, far more than Holmes could ever study him. Holmes also didn't have the scientific advantages that Usyk does. Holmes started boxing at the same age as Wilder. It's an absurd mismatch on every level.
I’ve already told you that Wlad had no experience in fighting southpaws until he fought Chris Byrd. Chris Byrd was a great fighter. And you labelling him as being a SMW-LHW, is a joke. James Toney had also never fought a southpaw until he fought Michael Nunn. Michael Nunn was also a great fighter. So that’s two fighters who fought and beat 2 great southpaws, without having had any previous experience. I’m sure that I could also find you some more examples if I tried. Also, Toney-Nunn being fought at MW and not HW, has no relevance either. Again, yes, it would have been a big shock to Holmes to have fought a hugely gifted southpaw for the only time in his career. However, again, Wlad and Toney both overcame their great challenges. Again, Holmes was also an ATG HW with outstanding qualities. Again, Usyk has never fought or beaten any HW as great as a prime Holmes. Again, he has never beaten any HW who possessed the skill set and the style that Holmes possessed. So, no. It would not have been an absurd mismatch. The only things that are absurd, are your ridiculous and heavily biased opinions.
"I’ve already told you that Wlad had no experience in fighting southpaws until he fought Chris Byrd." You've repeated this BS claim again so I will not read any more of your nonsense. You don't care about the facts enough to even research, why should I talk to a dishonest fool like that?
You are speaking in hyperbole, and it is not impressive. There is no data that Holmes can handle a southpaw, much less a very hood oen. Holmes should not be ranked in the top 5 of anyone who knows anything about the sport. The resume is just not there. The best heavies of the 80s were Witherspoon, Dokes, Tubbs. Thomas, Tucker, Spinks and Tyson. Holmes beat exactly one of them, and it was an either-way.
